House panel OK's armed guards in private schools

RICHMOND – A House of Delegates committee approved a measure Friday that would allow private schools and day care centers in the state to hire armed security guards.

While many of the state's public middle and high schools have armed police officers, private schools and child care centers are not allowed to under state law.

The bill's sponsor Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, said he was "shocked to learn" that private schools didn't have that option.

"It's a terrible oversight in the law," Cole said. "The governor's task force and everybody seems to be focused on public school security, but again we need to give the right to private schools to be able to provide for their own security if they choose."

In the wake of the mass shooting last month at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., Cole said the heavy emphasis on public schools leaves private schools and day care centers easy targets.

"The people who are motivated to do these shootings tend to seek out soft targets where they know they're not going to have a lot of resistance," Cole said. "The best defense is to have a good guy with a gun."

Democrats on the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee worried about what kind of training would be required for the security guards.

Committee chair Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William County, said armed security officers are required to complete a detailed training program with the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

The Senate passed a measure Friday that would allow retired law enforcement officials to work as school resource officers without affecting their state pension benefits.